4265. Robert Southey to [John May],18 October 1824

 

Endorsement: No. 242 1824/ Robert Southey/ Keswick 18th October/ recd. 22d do/ ansd. 27th do.
MS: Robert Southey Collection, Harry Ransom Center, The University of Texas at Austin. ALS; 4p. 
Previously published: Charles Ramos (ed.), The Letters of Robert Southey to John May: 1797–1838 (Austin, Texas, 1976), pp. 209–210.

Keswick. 18 Oct. 1824
My dear friend

An unusual length of time has elapsed without my hearing from you, & it has so happened that during that time I have not heard of you from any other quarter. A heavy loss xxx such as that which you have sustained

(1)

Mary May, née Coppendale (1745–1824), May’s mother, had died on 21 August 1824.

hardly appears at first like a reality when the loss is unexpected or untimely this is peculiarly felt & peculiarly painful; – & tho in your case what has occurred has been in the due & gentle course of nature, still any thing that produces so great a change in the relations of life, & in the daily & hourly thoughts & feelings affects the mind something in this manner. I am anxious to hear from you – to know how you are, – & to know also whether you receive more satisfactory accounts from Brazil.

(2)

John May was deeply concerned about his foundering business interests in Brazil.

Your goddaughter has been interrupted in her plans, which were to have left Exeter this day for Taunton, & to have proceeded from thence on the 25th for London with Lady Malet.

(3)

Lady Susannah Malet, née Wales (1779–1868), widow of Sir Charles Malet, 1st Baronet (1752–1815; DNB).

But Lady M. has been summoned to Winchester by the very dangerous illness of a son,

(4)

Octavius Warre Malet (1811–1891), eighth son of Lady Susanna Malet. Octavius Warre Malet served in the East India Company before retiring to Somerset in 1864, where he played a leading role in the restoration of Taunton Castle.

an inflammation of the lungs having come on just as he was to all appearances recovering from the measles. The lastxx accounts of him were more favourable. This leaves Edith at Exeter, in some uncertainty when to get from thence. She is with Mrs Wade Browne, the widow of my poor Ludlow friend, – & herself a person for whom I have a very high regard. I suppose she will take the first opportunity that may occur of finding a fit escort in the stage for London; & I expect that she will return with Bertha in February – that is, as soon as the depth of the winter shall be past. You will perhaps have heard of her from Ottery,

(5)

Ottery St Mary, Devon, home of many of Coleridge’s relatives.

where she past three days. I begin to be impatient for the return of these girls, – & to feel that at my age I cannot afford to part with them for so long an absence.

Having got rid of all remains of cough which my annual catarrh had left behind it, I have brought myself again into tolerable condition, & am endeavouring to keep myself so by very dutiful exercise, which is rendered less irksome by the habit of reading while I walk, if the weather permits. My second volume of the P. War

(6)

The second volume of Southey’s History of the Peninsular War (1823–1832).

is getting on well both in the press & at the desk. Indeed I am at this time in the best disposition for getting on with the works which I have in hand: & that disposition is increased by the desire of compleating them that I may lay down other foundations, & work up the materials which I have so long been preparing. – My Colloquies

(7)

Southey’s Sir Thomas More: or, Colloquies on the Progress and Prospects of Society (1829).

will very soon go to press, – indeed as soon as I hear from William Westall that the plates are in any state of forwardness.

(8)

Westall produced six sketches of Lake District scenes that were engraved for Sir Thomas More: or, Colloquies on the Progress and Prospects of Society, 2 vols (London, 1829): vol. I: ‘Druidical Stones near Keswick’, ‘Derwentwater, Bassenthwaite-water, and Skiddaw from Walla Crag’, and ‘Derwentwater from Strand Shagg’; and vol. II: ‘Crosthwaite Church and Skiddaw’, ‘Greta Hall, Derwentwater, and Newlands’, and ‘Tarn of Blencathra’.

They will afford matter for abuse to many persons, for wonder to more, – but for sober reflection to not a few, & for approbation also I trust. I expect little profit from them, & more credit in future ages than in this.

I believe one reason why neither Gifford nor Murray write to me is a degree of shame concerning the QR. which G. is plainly unwilling to xxx withdraw from, tho incapable of carrying it on, – & M. I suspect is desirous of driving a booksellers bargain about it, – perhaps even of trying the experiment of doing without an Editor. Gifford writes to Sir Walter Scott that he knows not where to look for an Editor: – there is some duplicity in this, after what has past with John C. – which I have made Scott acquainted with. I still think necessity will compel Murray at last to do – what for his own interest he ought to have done long ago.

My Uncle’s last letter was written in good spirits, & with a hand which has lost nothing of its firmness. Edward spent his holydays with me, – a fine boy he is, – one xx concerning whose conduct there need be no apprehension, as far as any indications of youthful character may be trusted.

My best remembrances to your fireside.
God bless you my dear friend
Yrs most affectionately
RS.

Notes

1. Mary May, née Coppendale (1745–1824), May’s mother, had died on 21 August 1824.[back]
2. John May was deeply concerned about his foundering business interests in Brazil.[back]
3. Lady Susannah Malet, née Wales (1779–1868), widow of Sir Charles Malet, 1st Baronet (1752–1815; DNB).[back]
4. Octavius Warre Malet (1811–1891), eighth son of Lady Susanna Malet. Octavius Warre Malet served in the East India Company before retiring to Somerset in 1864, where he played a leading role in the restoration of Taunton Castle.[back]
5. Ottery St Mary, Devon, home of many of Coleridge’s relatives.[back]
6. The second volume of Southey’s History of the Peninsular War (1823–1832).[back]
7. Southey’s Sir Thomas More: or, Colloquies on the Progress and Prospects of Society (1829).[back]
8. Westall produced six sketches of Lake District scenes that were engraved for Sir Thomas More: or, Colloquies on the Progress and Prospects of Society, 2 vols (London, 1829): vol. I: ‘Druidical Stones near Keswick’, ‘Derwentwater, Bassenthwaite-water, and Skiddaw from Walla Crag’, and ‘Derwentwater from Strand Shagg’; and vol. II: ‘Crosthwaite Church and Skiddaw’, ‘Greta Hall, Derwentwater, and Newlands’, and ‘Tarn of Blencathra’.[back]
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